Exclusive: Newcastle eye move for powerhouse top-flight forward

Newcastle United and Burnley are among a number of Premier League and Championship clubs keen on highly-rated Hannover 96 striker Niclas Füllkrug, Football Insider sources understand.

The powerful forward has emerged on the radar of a host of English clubs after catching the eye at Hannover during the last 18 months.

Füllkrug has scored six goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for far for Hannover this campaign, including four Bundesliga strikes in just eight starts.

Burnley have held an interest in Füllkrug after he impressed in a pre-season friendly between the two clubs and he would suit Sean Dyche’s style of football.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Newcastle United are also lining up a bid for Füllkrug as Rafa Benitez looks to improve his side’s attacking options in the second half of the season to help them climb clear of trouble at the wrong end of the Premier League table.

Füllkrug is under contract at Hannover until 2020 and it would take a fee in the region £6million for them to even consider selling the striker in January.

The 6ft, 2in forward started his career at Werder Bremen making 25 appearances for the club before leaving for Nurnberg in 2014.

Füllkrug made a big impression at Nurnberg, scoring 18 goals in 59 appearances, prompting Hannover to sign him in the summer of 2016.